Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-10-07
THE CITY'S HEALTH.
THE STATEMENT THAT TYPHOID FEVER Is
ON THE INCREASE REPUTBD
By Facts and Rgurs-A Talk With a Wsl-knOwn
Physician Concerning the kattsr-Ths
Water Supply and Other Things

There has been 8 great deal of talk lately
about the water supply and its relation to
typhoid fever. 1t has been claimed by
many that impure water is the cause OF q
great deal of typhoid in the city, and that
as the water became worse the number
of typhoid fever cases increased in pro-
portion. These people claim that fever In
Wheeling has been on the increase for the
past two or three years and that the
water is the cause of it. In speaking OF
the matter toa we'll known physician the
other day, a REGISTER man asked him
what foundation these statements had.
WELL" answered the gentleman, I'm
my opinion the facts have been greatly ex-
aggerated, as far as l can learn. and l have
looked the matter up, too. There can be
no doubt of the fact that eur water supply
for the last two months has beeny cry bad,
on account of the extreme shallowness OF
the river, but l am convinced, that under
ordinary circumstances Wheeling water
is as pure and good as that of the majority
of the principal cities of the country,
of which we are one. The state
ment that typhoid fever is on the increase
in the city, has no foundation as far as l
an able to learn, but it is rather on the
decrease. There are some people who,
for some reason wish to place Wheeling in
a worse light regarding her health than she
really is, and l see that the Sanitary Era
credits Wheeling with having 1927
deaths to each 1000 population
for the month Of April, when
the fact is that this was the record forthree
months commencing with April, l believe.
Now, of course these statements get abroad
and they place the city in no favorable
light, especially to people who contemplate
locating here. When a person thinks how
likely they are to be one out of the 43 in a
thousand, it isn't at all encouraging"
"Well, do you know what the figures on
typhoid are for the past few years."
"Yes; i looked over the books of the
Health Officer the other day. and / find
that in 1884 the total mortality was 597,
| out of which "a were the result OF typhoid
fever or 10.7 per cent of deaths from all
causes. In 1885 the total number of deaths
was $50, of which As were the result Of
typhoid fever, or 7.6 per cent of the
total mortality. Here we have the total
death rate increased 35, yet the per cent OF
! typhoid fever cases is about one-third
smaller. In 1886 the total deaths number
ed sig, 26 of which were from typhoid
fever, or 81 per cen of the total NOR
I tality. 1t is only in the last year that
there is any increase shown. The total
deaths up to date are 453, twenty-siX OF
which are from typhoid fever, or 81
per cent of the total mortality. Now /
think these figures, which are official, suf.
fciently refute all statements that typhoid
fever is on such 4 wonderful increase,
although, of course, this year will he
somewhat larger than last. Thi, may be
partly due to the fact that the water has
been in worse condition and for a longer
time thar in previous years"
So far the physicians do not report a
great number oftyphoid fever cases, al
though commencing with September LIST,
the season is the most productive of that
disease in the year. The above figures are
given to show that there is a great deal Of
talk that is nothing but talk, and no doubt
our citizens will be resssured that the
health of the city is as good, if not better,
than in any of the last four years.